Display-rack.



A. E. MILLER.

DISPLAY RAOKJ APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 191-1.

Patented July 9, 1912. I w

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN 00., \VAsmr iu'ruu, D. C.

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A. E. MILLER.

DISPLAY RACK.

APPLICATION rum) APR.17, 1911.

Patented July' 9, 1912.

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A. E. MILLER. DISPLAY RAGK. APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 1911.

Patented July 9, 1912 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNTTED %TATE% PATENT @FFTQE ANDREW E. MILLER, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,ASSIGNOR TO SOLOMON HIMMEL,

' 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DISPLAY-RACK.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW E. MILLER, a subject of the King of GreatBritain residing in the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Display-Racks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in displayracks for garments and the like.

One of'the objects of the invention is to provide improved means wherebythe garments may be conveniently and compactly stored in dust proofcases, and yet be readily accessible for exhibiting to a customer by asalesman.

A further object is to provide improved means for guiding the rack sothat the same may be readily drawn to the forward por tion of the casewhen it is desired to display the goods supported thereby.

A further object is to provide a brake continuously acting to retardrotation thereof, whereby the danger of accidentally bringing the rackinto contact with the glass sides of the case is prevented.

A further object is to provide means for retaining the rack in itsforward position when it is desired to exhibit the goods.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a plan View of a case with myimproved display rack applied thereto, the top of the case beingremoved. Fig. 2 is a front view with portions of the case broken awayand parts shown in section. Fig. 3 is an en larged detail top plan viewof the rack supporting carriage and its adjuncts. Fig. 4; is a detailside view of the same. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of Fig. 3 showingthe positions assumed by the parts when the rack is turned. Fig. 6 is atop plan view of a slight modification. Fig. 7 is a side view thereof.Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the same.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a case of any suitable orpreferred construction, that shown being provided with the frontsections 11 capable of being removed or turned into the end of the caseto permit withdrawal of the display rack. Suspended from brackets 12secured adjacent the top of the case is a rail 13 adapted to support aSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 17,1911.

Patented July 9, 1912. Serial No. 621,646.

carriage 14, said carriage comprising side bars 15 between which aremounted traction rollers 16, one at each end. The ends of the bars 15are also provided with depending brackets 17 which support guide rollers18 adapted to embrace the sides of the bar 15 to hold the carriage inproper vertical position thereon. Depending from the carriage 14 is ahanger 19 to which is secured a depending rod 20, the lower end of saidrod being provided with a roller 21 adapted to run in a groove orguide-way 22 in the bot tom of the case. By this arrangement the rod 20is maintained in an upright position and yet by reason of its beingsupported by the carriage 14c, may be moved back and forth within thecase. The display rack comprises a sleeve 23 fitting over the rod 20 andfree to rotate thereon, said sleeve being supported by a collar 24rigidly secured to the rod 20 by means of a set screw or other suitabledevice. To the sleeve 23 are secured arms 25 which in turn support thelongitudinal bars 26 upon which the garments are hung 111 any preferredmanner.

To the upper end of the sleeve 23 is socured a collar 30 provided with aflaring body portion 31 terminating in a vertical flange 32, said flangebeing provided with recesses '33 arranged opposite the inner ends oflongitudinal arms 34 extending outwardly from said flange and engagingthe arms 24. Extending laterally from opposite sides of the hanger 19are arms or lugs 35 to which are pivotally connected levers 36 providedwith depending bosses 37 through which are extended journal studs 38which support rollers 39 arranged to engage the inner face of the flange32. The free end of each lever 36 is provided with a cup like portion 40to receive one end of a spring 41, the other end of the spring beingseated in a suitable recess 42 in the side of the hanger. Said springsare so arranged that their action tends to keep the rollers 39 inengagement with the inner face of the flange 32 with sufiicient pressureto act as a brake, and also to force said rollers into the recesses 33when they come oppositethe latter. This arrangement is such that shouldthe rack be carelessly rotated the rotation will be interrupted and yetthe tension be slight enough to permit the rack to be turned when suchmovement is desired.

In order to prevent accidental return of the carriage into the casewhile the rack: is being rotated I have provided brake shoes 43extending through suitable openings in the side of the hanger 19 andheld normally in engagement with the track 13 bymeans of springs 44located within the convolutions of springs 41.

In operation, the carriage 15 is moved back and forth manually, on track13, the springs 41 normally holding the rollers 39 in engagement withthe recesses 33 of the flange 32. The friction upon the track 13,rollers 16 and 18 is so very light that the carriage maybe moved backand forth with out forcing the rollers 39 out of engagement with saidnotches 33.. After the carriage has been drawn forward however, butlittle force exerted on the arms of the rack is necessary to cause therollers 39 to move out of engagement with the notches 33, said movementbeing effected as therack is turned. This movement brings the rollers 38into engagement with the inner face of the flange 32 causing the socketends of the levers 36 to move inwardly toward the track 13. Thismovement increases the tension upon the springs 44 and forces the brakeshoes 43 into frictional engagement with the track 13. Thus it will beseen that sufficient pressure is exerted upon said track to hold thecarriage in its forward position and to resist accidental return, andyet the tension is such that the carriage can yield to a sudden movementwhich would otherwise tend to injure the rack and case if the formerwere positively locked. The same is true with regard to the brakingaction tending to control the rotation of the rack. The latter is heldwith suflicient force to control the freedom of rotation and yet willyield to any force that would tend to bring a strain upon the parts ifthey were positively locked. In other words, practice has demonstratedthat when a rackis positively locked against rotation or against anymovement with respect to the case, it frequently happens that anattendant in a moment of forgetfulness will attempt to impart move mentwithout releasing the locking devices or without bringing the parts inproper position where automatic devices are employed. These movementstend to strain the parts and in the course of a short time will derangethe entire mechanism. By my arrangement, as herein described thesestrains are entirely obviated and yet the rack is held in any desiredposition with suflicient force for all purposes.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have shown a slight modification in which the rackis entirely suspended from the top of the case and the lower guideomitted. In this form of my invention I employ three tracks 50, 51 and52 upon which is mounted a carriage 53. Said carriage is formed with theside bars '54 and the transverse bar 55. Said transverse bar is providedwith traction rollers 56 resting on the tracks 50 and 52 respectively,and at the other end of the carriage the side bars 54 are provided withthe traction roller 57 resting upon the track 51. The carriage isfurther guided and maintained by means of rollers 58 which depend fromthe side bars 54 and engage the sides of the track 51. A vertical rod 59is suspended from a hanger60 carried by the carriage 53, and said rodsupports the rack 61 in the same manner as described in the preferredform of my invention. Said sleeve is provided with the collar 62provided with a flange 63 havingopposite notches 64 engaged by rollers65 mounted in the free ends of arms 66 pivoted to the carriage. Saidarms are held separated by suitable springs 67. The arms 66 are eachprovided with a recess in which is mounted an antifriction pad 68,preferably of rubber having an outer facing of leather to increase thefriction. Then the arms 66 are moved inward during the rotation of therack the pads 68 are brought into frictional engagement with the track51 and the carriage is held in the same manner as by the brake shoes 43.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention, and described anoperative manner of constructing and using the same, although withoutattempting to set forth all of theforms in which it may be made, or allof the forms of its use, what I claim is 1. A display rack of thecharacter described comprising a reciprocable carriage, a dependinghanger supported thereby, a supporting arm extending laterally from saidhanger, a brake arm having one end pivotally supported bysaid-supporting arm and provided with a brake roller, a rotatable sleevecarried by said hanger and provided with a notch to receive said roller,a garment supporting device carried by said sleeve, and a springinterposed between said arm and said hanger and acting to hold the brakeroller normally in engagement with said sleeve. 2. A display rack of thecharacter described comprising a carriage, arlaterally extendedsupporting arm secured thereto, a, brake arm having one end pivoted tosaid supporting arm and provided with a depending boss, a rotatablebrake member mounted in said boss, a rotatable sleeve supported by saidcarriage and provided with a notch to receive said brake 'memberfa'garment supporting device supported by said sleeve, and a spring actingto hold said brake member normally in engagement with said sleeve.

3. A display rack of the character described comprising a carriage, alaterally extended supporting arm secured thereto, a brake arm havingone end pivoted to said supporting arm, and having a socket at its freeend, a brake roller carried by said brake arm, a rotatable sleevesupported by said carriage and provided with a notch to receive saidbrake roller, a garment supporting device carried by said sleeve, and aspringhaving one end seated in said socketand having its other endbearing against said carriage.

4-. A display rack of the character described comprising a carriage, alaterally extended supporting arm secured thereto, a brake arm havingone end pivoted to said supporting arm and having a socket at its freeend, said arm being also provided with a depending boss, a rotatablebrake member mounted in said boss, a rotatable sleeve supported by saidcarriage and provided with a notch to receive said brake member, agarment supporting device carried by said sleeve, and a spring bearingagainst said carriage and having one end extending into said socket.

5. A display rack of the character described comprising a reciprocablecarriage, a depending hanger supported thereby, a supporting armextending laterally from said hanger, a brake arm having oneendpivot-ally supported by said supporting arm and provided with a brakeroller the free end of said arm being provided with a socket, arotatable sleeve carried by said hanger and provided with a notch toreceive said roller, a garment supporting device carried by said sleeve,and a spring interposed between said arm and said hanger and having oneend inserted in said socket.

6. A display .rack of the character described comprising a reciprocablecarriage, a depending hanger supported thereby, a supporting armextending laterally from said hanger, a brake arm having one endpivotally supported by said supporting arm and provided with a dependingboss, a ro tatable brake member mounted in said boss, a rotatable sleevesupported by said carriage and provided with a notch to receive saidbrake member, a garment supporting device supported by said sleeve, andaspring acting to hold said brake member normally in engagement withsaid sleeve.

7. In a display rack, a reciprocable carriage, a rack supported by saidcarriage and free to rotate irrespective of the position of saidcarriage, a frictional brake continuously acting on said rack to retardrotation tllereof, said rack being provided with means for periodicallyengaging said brake and adapted to permit rotation of the rack when anincreased rotating power is applied thereto, and means for frictionallyholding said carriage against movement when the rack is being rotated.

8. In a display rack, a reciprocable carriage, a rotatable racksupported thereby, a

friction brake for retarding rotation of said rack, and frictional meanscontrolled by said brake for retarding movement of the carriage duringthe rotation of said rack.

9. In a display rack, a rotatable rack member, means for moving saidmember bodily back and forth, said member being free to rotateirrespective of said bodily movement, a friction brake continuouslyacting on said rack member to retard rotation thereof, and meanscontrolled by said brake for yieldingly holding said rack member againstbodily movement during rotation thereof.

10. In a display rack, a rotatable rack member, means for supporting thesame and moving it bodily back and forth, a notched flange connectedwith said rack member, braking means engaging the inner face of saidflange, and means controlled by said.

braking means for yieldingly holding said rack member against bodilymovement during its rotation.

11. In a display rack, a carriage, a hanger secured thereto, a rotatablemember supported below said hanger and provided with garment supportingmeans, said rotatable member being provided with a notched flange, aspring pressed lever pivotally sup ported by one end of said hanger andprovided with a roller engaging the inner wall of said flange, and meanscontrolled by said lever for yieldingly holding said carriage againstbodily movement during the rotation of said sleeve.

12. In a display rack, a reciprocable carriage, a rotatable racksupportedthereby, a notched flange connected with said rack member, aspring pressed lever supported by said carriage and provided with meansfor engaging the inner face of said flange, and frictional meanscontrolled by said lever for yieldingly holding said rack member againstbodily movement during its rotation.

13. In a display rack, a carriage provided with a depending member, arack member rotatably mounted on said depending member, a notched flangesecured to said rack member, spring pressed levers engaging the innerface of said flange, the distance between the center of said flange andthe pivots of said levers being the same irrespective of the position ofsaid rack member, and braking means controlled by said levers toyieldingly hold said rack against bodily movement during its rotation.

14. In a display rack, the combination with a track of a reciprocablecarriage, a rack rotatably supported by said carriage, a brakecontinuously acting on said rack member, and a second brake controlledby the first brake and adapted to frictionally engage in-said trackthrough movement of the first brake.

15. In a display rack, the combination with a track, of areciprocablecarriage, a rack rotatably supported by said carriage, a notched membersecured to said rack member, spring pressed levers engaging said notchedmember, and brake members controlled by said levers and adapted toengage said track.

16. In a display rack, the combination with a track, of a reciprocablecarriage, a rack member rotatably supported by said carriage, a notchedflange secured to said rack member, spring pressed levers engaging theinner face of said flange, and brake members controlled by said leversand adapted to engage said track.

17. In a display rack, the combination with a track, of a reciprocablecarriage, a rack member rotatably supported by said carriage, a notchedmember secured to said rack member, spring pressed levers enga ing saidnotched member, and spring pressed brake members engaging said track.

18. In a display rack, the combination with a track, of a reciprocablecarriage, a

rack member rotatably supported by the carriage, a notched membersecured to said rack member, spring pressed levers engaging said notchedmember, and spring pressed brake members engaging said track, thesprings of said brake members being located within the convolutions ofthe springs acting on said levers.

19. In a display rack, a reciprocable carriage provided with a dependingmember, means for guiding the lower end of said member, a rack memberrotatably mounted on said depending member, a brake support ed by saidcarriage and continuously acting onsaid rack member, and a second brakefor frictionally holding said carriage against movement during rotationof said rack.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscrlbmg witnesses.

ANDREW E. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

